There could not be two teams that could be more opposite than the Columbus Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins. Boston is a classic blue blood old money Original Six team with a grand history and tradition. By contrast Columbus has struggled for two decades as an expansion team that had never won a playoff series until this year. Yet Columbus has gone toe to toe with the Bruins while showing no fear in their Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series. Perhaps its because they are led by a Bostonian coach by the name of John Tortorella. In fact, Tortorella’s favorite saying is that “Safe is Death.”
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Boston Bruins Game 5
Date and Time: Saturday, May 4, 2019, 7:15 p.m. ET
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
NHL Betting Online Odds at Bookmaker.eu: Check Back Later
Blue Jackets vs. Bruins TV Coverage: NBC
Odds Analysis
While Boston is the ultimate name brand team with a generational fan base Columbus earned the attention of all hockey fans when they swept the President’s Trophy winning Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. The Jackets were given zero chance to win that series and when they beat the prohibitive Stanley Cup Favorite Lightning many gamblers could sense something special was brewing and that Columbus was better than advertised.
Series Update
This best of seven series is tied at two wins each with both teams splitting their two games at home and on the road. Boston’s best performance of the series so far was game four at Columbus. Facing a virtual must win game the Bruins were dominant and prevailed 4-1.
Coaching Matchup
John Tortorella arrived as a discredited retread at Columbus after getting fired by the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks. He took a year off after those failures to remake himself and the results have been spectacular. Torts has made history as the most successful coach in Blue Jackets history.
Bruc
me coach Claude Julien. Cassidy was tasked with coaxing a more complete 200-foot game out of the Bruins and to end the over emphasis on shut down defense while sacrificing offense. Cassidy has vastly improved the Bruins goal scoring production while not sacrificing defense.
Goaltending Report
Sergei Bobrovsky had a tumultuous season for the Blue Jackets and was at times benched, sent home, and threatened with trades. Yet he has come up aces in the playoffs with a .933 save percentage and 2.13 goals against average. Boston’s Tuukka Rask has also been excellent with a .933 save percentage in his own right and a 2.11 goals against average.
Players to Watch
Boston left wings Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak were top contributors all season and that has also been the case in the playoffs. Marchand leads all Boston scorers with four goals, six assists and a plus three while Pastrnak has added four goals with five assists and a plus two. Centers Charlie Colle and Patrice Bergeron each have five goals for Boston.
Much like Bobrovsky, Columbus left wing Artemi Panarin was in the dog house much of the year but he has thrived in the playoffs with a team best five goals, five assists and plus two. Center Matt Duchene has five goals, four assists and a plus five.
Blue Jackets vs. Bruins Free NHL Live Betting Odds Pick
This looks like a good spot for the underdog. Columbus is at their best when counted out and the public will be betting the Bruins heavily at home. The Blue Jackets have shown utter fearlessness in the playoffs this year.
Blue Jackets vs. Bruins NHL Live Betting Odds Picks: Columbus Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets vs. Bruins NHL Live Betting Odds Score Prediction: Blue Jackets 3, Bruins 1
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